A 64-year-old businessman, Ibrahim Damtey Botchway, has been remanded into police custody by the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding an individual of GH¢500,000 under false pretenses.

Presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, the court heard that Mr. Botchway allegedly obtained the money by promising to secure four plots of land at Odorkor for the complainant, a claim later found to be false.

The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretenses, both violations of Sections 23(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raymond Ackom requested the court to remand Mr. Botchway, citing the seriousness of the charges and the need to facilitate investigations. The court upheld the request, remanding the accused into custody.

Court documents also revealed that Mr. Botchway is already in custody over a separate fraud case.

The court issued bench warrants for two other suspects allegedly involved in the scheme: Asafoatse Paa Niin Osiakwan II, a 55-year-old driver, and Okantey Shakatse, a 60-year-old mason. Both are accused of conspiring with Mr. Botchway to commit the fraud.

The case has been adjourned to December 11, 2024, as investigations continue.

Brief Facts

The court heard that the complainant Alex Nartey (now deceased), was a businessman, who was residing at Ghawe, Accra, Mrs. Jennifer Nartey, wife of the complainant is a witness in this case.

Accused persons, Asafoatse Paa Nii @Osiakwan II (A1) is a driver and resident at Odorkor Twuim, Okantey Shikatse (A2) is a Mason and also resides at Odorkor Twuim, while Ibrahim Damtey Botchway (A3) is a Businessman, residing at Madina, Accra.

The prosecution noted that in the year 2017, accused persons who are members of the Odorkor Twuim Chief’s Palace, went to the office of the complainant and his wife, and A3 represented to them that he had four plots of land at Odorkor for sale but there is a case at the Accra High Court over the land and that he needed an amount of GH¢500,000.00 to pursue the case in court after which he would sell the land to the complainant.

A2 who claimed to be the head of family of Odorkor Twuim Chief’s Palace, reiterated these representations to the complainant.

Complainant relied on these representations and subsequently parted with a total amount of GH¢500,000.00 to the accused persons.

Complainant effected the payment through the issuance of various ABSA bank cheques as well as cash to the accused persons.

In the course of the court hearing, the parties pleaded for out-of-court settlement and the court granted their request and issued the Consent Judgment on 6/12/2021.

The court directed that the parties should sell the disputed land to a third party at a price of not less than USD500,000.00.

The defendant was to receive an amount of USD280,000.00 while the plaintiff received USD220,000.00 of the total proceeds from the sale of the land.

A3 subsequently informed the complainant of the development with the promise to refund the money when the land was sold to the third party but failed to do so.

In the course of time, the complainant passed on.

The wife of the complainant went to the land and detected that the land had been sold to a third party and had developed it.

She contacted the accused persons on phone severally but they did not answer her calls.

Accused persons on interrogation admitted receiving the said amount from the complainant.

They further admitted selling the land in question.